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Leadership

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Dr. Michael Watson, Administrator

Dr. Michael Watson was appointed the Administrator of the U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in December 2023 after

serving as Acting Administrator for 10 months. As Administrator, Dr. Watson carries

out the Agency’s multiple missions of protecting the health and value of American

agriculture; mitigating the impact of human-wildlife conflict to protect agriculture,

the environment, and human health and safety; ensuring the safe and timely

availability of new genetically engineered technologies; and administering the

Animal Welfare and Horse Protection Acts.
Before being named as Acting Administrator, Dr. Watson served as Associate

Administrator since January 2018 where he oversaw the Agency’s day-to-day

operations. Prior to joining the Administrator’s office, Dr. Watson served as the

Associate Deputy Administrator for the Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business

Services (MRPBS), where he also spent time as the Director of the Human Resources

Division, leading the delivery of human resource services for APHIS, the Agricultural

Marketing Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Merit Systems

Protection Board.

Dr. Watson has a wealth of Federal experience having worked for several different

Departments. He began his federal career in 1994 at USDA’s Agricultural Research

Service where he worked as a plant pathologist for three years. He went on to hold

positions with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug

Administration, before beginning his APHIS career with Biotechnology Regulatory

Services in 2003. After serving in several BRS roles over 7 years, Dr. Watson moved

to Plant Protection and Quarantine where he served as the Associate Executive

Director and Executive Director for Plant Health Programs and the Associate Deputy

Administrator for Policy Management during his 5 years with the program.

Dr. Watson received his bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of

Maryland, College Park in 1987 and his doctorate in plant pathology from the

University of California, Davis in 1994. A Maryland native, Dr. Watson resides in

Davidsonville, MD.

Dr. Donna Lalli, Associate Administrator
Dr. Donna Lalli was appointed Associate Administrator in October 2023. In this role,

she works in partnership with Administrator Dr. Mike Watson to carry out the

Agency’s day-to-day operations, represent APHIS on Department-level and crossAgency working groups, and oversee the activities of every APHIS program area and

support unit on behalf of employees and stakeholders.

Prior to being appointed as Associate Administrator, Dr. Lalli acted in this role for

more than 8 months since February 2023. From January 2021 until her joining the

Office of the Administrator, Dr. Lalli served as the Associate Deputy Administrator for

Wildlife Services, providing executive leadership to the Agency’s National Feral

Swine Damage Management Program, the National Rabies Program, and the Airport

Wildlife Hazards Program.

For 10 months she served on a temporary assignment as Senior Policy Advisor in the

Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy, after

serving as the APHIS Science Advisor from 2017-2020. Dr. Lalli started her APHIS

career with Biotechnology Regulatory Services as a biotechnologist and then as the

program’s chief of staff. Before joining APHIS, Dr. Lalli worked for USDA’s Agricultural

Research Service where she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Appalachian

Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, WV. Dr. Lalli has a Ph.D. in genetics and a

bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from Clemson University.

Michelle Wenberg, Associate Administrator
Michelle Wenberg was appointed Associate Administrator in February 2024. In this

role, she works in partnership with Administrator Dr. Michael Watson and fellow

Associate Administrator Dr. Donna Lalli to carry out the Agency’s day-to-day

operations, represent APHIS on Department-level and cross-Agency working groups,

and oversee the activities of every APHIS program area and support unit on behalf of

employees and stakeholders.

Prior to being appointed as Associate Administrator, Ms. Wenberg was APHIS’

Deputy Administrator for Policy and Program Development (PPD) since 2021,

providing leadership for the overall planning and direction of policies at APHIS. She

was responsible for leading the Agency’s budget and regulatory development

processes; economic, risk, and environmental analyses related to proposed

regulations and other APHIS program actions; and strategic planning, program

reviews, and process improvements to advance program performance across APHIS.

From 2019 to 2021, Ms. Wenberg served as Chief of PPD’s Planning, Evaluation, and

Decision Support unit, where she was responsible for providing management

consulting services such as strategic and operational planning, business process

improvements, workload analysis, and other analytical products and services for

developing and improving APHIS programs. From 2005 to 2019, she was the APHIS

Budget Officer/Chief of PPD’s Budget and Program Analysis Staff and led the

development, justification, and monitoring of the Agency’s $2.5 billion annual

operating budget that supported approximately 8,000 employees and mission

activities around the world.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Wenberg held positions in Wildlife Services, Marketing and

Regulatory Programs Business Services, and Plant Protection and Quarantine, and

served on a yearlong detail with the U. S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Ms. Wenberg received a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management from the

University of Maryland. She also is a graduate of the American University’s School of

Public Affairs KEY Executive Leadership Program, and USDA’s Senior Executive

Service Candidate Development Program.

Ms. Wenberg resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two children.
Dr. Roxanne Mullaney, Deputy Administrator,

Animal Care

Dr. Roxanne Mullaney was appointed Deputy Administrator in July 2023.  In this role

she leads Animal Care’s many employees in protecting and ensuring the welfare of

millions of animals nationwide that are covered under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)

and Horse Protection Act (HPA). Dr. Mullaney has proudly been with USDA’s Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service for more than 30 years and brings a wealth of

veterinary knowledge, hands-on experience, and managerial savvy to her position.

Prior to becoming AC’s Deputy Administrator, she served as AC’s Associate Deputy

Administrator for a year.  Before joining AC, she was the Associate Deputy

Administrator in Emergency and Regulatory Compliance Services (ERCS) and served

as the Director of ERCS’ Emergency Management, Safety and Security Division from

2019 to 2022. Dr. Mullaney also led Marketing and Regulatory Program’s COVID-19

response as deputy pandemic coordinator from 2020-2022.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Mullaney served in Veterinary Services (VS), where she

gained emergency response and preparedness experience at the local and national

levels. She also managed VS import, export, and domestic program operations at

the state, regional and national levels.  Dr. Mullaney joined APHIS in the early 1990s

through the Public Veterinary Practice Career program, where she initially worked to

eradicate swine disease at the farm level as a field veterinarian. She also served as

an Area Veterinarian in Charge in both New York and New Jersey and held several

other regional and national field management positions.
Dr. Mullaney has a passion for collaboration and has focused on improving

organizational infrastructure throughout her career.

Bernadette Juarez, Deputy Administrator,

Biotechnology Regulatory Services

Bernadette Juarez was appointed Deputy Administrator in August 2019. In this role,

she provides leadership and direction to ensure the safe development and

introduction (importation, interstate movement, and field testing) of genetically

engineered organisms.

Prior to this appointment, Ms. Juarez served as Deputy Administrator for Animal Care

since 2016, where she led the program’s many employees in protecting and

ensuring the welfare of millions of animals nationwide that are covered under the

Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA). She also oversaw the

collaborative work done to assist pet owners and regulated facilities prepare for

natural disasters and emergencies.

Ms. Juarez joined APHIS in 2009, first as Investigative and Enforcement Services’

Deputy Director for nearly 5 years and then as Director starting in 2013. As Director,

Ms. Juarez was responsible for leading investigations of alleged violations involving

APHIS-administered laws and pursuing enforcement actions where warranted. Before

coming to APHIS, Ms. Juarez was a trial attorney in USDA’s Office of the General

Counsel from 2002 to 2009.
In 1999, Ms. Juarez completed her bachelor’s in business administration from the

University of New Mexico. She went on to earn her juris doctor from American

University, Washington College of Law, in 2002.

Although originally from New Mexico, Ms. Juarez currently resides in Silver Spring,

MD, with her husband Brian and two children, Concetta and Miles.

Sarah Helming, Deputy Administrator, Emergency

and Regulatory Compliance Services

Sarah Helming was appointed Deputy Administrator in October 2023. In this role, Ms.

Helming oversees APHIS’ select agents and toxins, investigative and enforcement,

biodefense, and emergency management, safety and security programs.

Ms. Helming joined APHIS in 2014 and has held various positions throughout the

Agency including Associate Deputy Administrator for Emergency and Regulatory

Compliance Services and Chief of Staff for the Office of the Administrator. She also

served in roles in APHIS International Services, Veterinary Services and Legislative

and Public Affairs. In 2021, Ms. Helming served as USDA’s Supply Chain Coordinator

overseeing the $4 billion USDA received from the American Rescue Plan Act to

transform the U.S. food system.

Prior to joining APHIS, Ms. Helming worked for various government entities, including

as a congressional staffer in the U.S. Congress, counsel in the Nevada Legislature,

and in Nebraska Health and Human Services, focusing on bioterrorism and public

health emergency law. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from

Indiana University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska. She is an

Indiana native and currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Cheryle Blakely, Deputy Administrator,

International Services
Cheryle Blakely leads a 300-person staff domestically and overseas, directing

cooperative efforts with foreign governments to prevent the introduction of high-risk

pests and diseases into the United States. She is also responsible for protecting and

expanding overseas markets for U.S. agricultural goods, supporting rural incomes

and jobs. Through APHIS’ International Services (IS) capacity building programs, Ms.

Blakely helps broaden APHIS’ safeguarding system by leading work in developing

regions to improve their infrastructure to detect and respond to emerging pest and

disease threats. Before assuming this role in 2018, Ms. Blakely served as IS’

Associate Deputy Administrator since 2012, directing the operations and objectives

of 28 IS posts worldwide and acting as a key liaison between IS, other USDA

agencies, international organizations and other non-governmental organizations.

Ms. Blakely first joined APHIS in 2006 as IS’ Chief of Staff. She then served as U.S.

General Director of the U.S.–Panama Bi-Lateral Screwworm Commission before

returning to Washington, D.C., in 2010 to serve as the Administrative Director for IS.

In 2011, she detailed to the U.S. Agency for International Development in their

Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, where she worked on

agricultural business investments as part of the Presidential Grow Africa G8 Task

Force for Markets and Partnerships in Tanzania, Africa.

Before joining APHIS, Ms. Blakely had a long and successful career with the military.

Following six years of active duty service in the U.S. Air Force, Ms. Blakely embarked

on a distinguished civil service career at the Department of Defense while continuing

ten years of active reserve military duty. During her civilian career, Ms. Blakely

served as Head of Business Operations and Marketing for the Morale, Welfare and

Recreation enterprise at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and as Director of Acquisitions for

the Air Force Wargaming Center in Montgomery, AL.
Ms. Blakely has a bachelor’s degree in occupational education from Eastern Illinois

University-Carbondale, IL, and a master of science in public administration from

Russell Sage College, Albany, NY. She is a native of New York and has 2 children.

Dr. Mark Davidson, Deputy Administrator, Plant

Protection and Quarantine

Dr. Mark Davidson was appointed Deputy Administrator for Plant Protection and

Quarantine (PPQ) in May 2022 after acting in the position since January 2022. In this

position, he leads and directs a nationally dispersed staff that safeguards U.S.

agriculture and natural resources against the entry, establishment, and spread of

economically and environmentally significant pests and diseases and facilitates the

safe global trade of agricultural products.

Prior to becoming PPQ’s Deputy Administrator, Dr. Davidson served as an APHIS

Associate Administrator since August 2019, where he worked in partnership with the

Administrator to carry out the Agency’s day-to-day operations, represent APHIS on

Department-level and cross-Agency working groups, and oversee the activities of

every APHIS program area and support unit on behalf of employees and

stakeholders.

From February 2018 to August 2019, Dr. Davidson served as the Deputy

Administrator for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services, where he

was responsible for providing human resource management; financial management;

acquisition and asset management; as well as support services, such as information

technology; emergency management, safety, and security; and investigative

services to APHIS and the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Before joining APHIS in 1998, Dr. Davidson spent two years with USDA’s Food Safety

and Inspection Service. Then, after joining APHIS, he spent 19 years with Veterinary

Services (VS) in various positions in the field, their regional office in Fort Collins, CO,

and in Riverdale, MD. From November 2013 to February 2018, Dr. Davidson served

as VS’ Associate Deputy Administrator, where he provided planning, policy, program,

and regulatory oversight and implementation for VS’ National Import Export Services

activities focusing on safeguarding U.S. animal health and facilitating trade in

animals and animal products.

Dr. Davidson received his D.V.M. and master’s degree in veterinary pathology from

Auburn University and his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky

University.

Dr. Rosemary Sifford , Deputy Administrator

Veterinary Services, and Chief Veterinary Officer

Dr. Rosemary Sifford began her career with USDA as a Saul T. Wilson Scholar in

1997. Since that time, she has served APHIS in a variety of positions, crossing policy

and operations in Veterinary Services, Plant Protection and Quarantine and Animal

Care. She has served in the field and in a variety of management positions, most

recently as the Associate Deputy Administrator for Animal Care.

Dr. Sifford received undergraduate degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural

Business Management from NCSU in 1996 and her DVM from NCSU in 2000. She has

completed several leadership development programs within USDA including

completing the SES Candidate Development Program in 2014.
Dr. Sifford is married to the Reverend Stephen Sifford. They have three daughters,

Madison, Salem, and Sedona. As a family they enjoy all things livestock and raise

Hereford and Holstein cattle.

Janet Bucknall, Deputy Administrator, Wildlife

Services

Janet Bucknall is responsible for the overall planning, coordination and direction of

Wildlife Services’ (WS) national operational and research programs. Prior to

assuming the role of Deputy Administrator in 2018, she served as WS’ Eastern

Regional Director where she led WS’ activities in 31 states as well as Puerto Rico and

the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ms. Bucknall, a wildlife biologist, joined APHIS in 1987 as part

of a WS’ Supervisory Training Program.

Although Ms. Bucknall has spent most of her career with WS, from 2014 to 2016 she

served as the Associate Deputy Administrator for APHIS’ Biotechnology Regulatory

Services (BRS), where she handled the international and emerging issues portfolios.

Before moving over to BRS, Ms. Bucknall spent 7 years as the Deputy Director for

Wildlife Operations with WS’ Operational Support Staff headquartered in Riverdale,

MD.

Prior to moving to APHIS’ headquarters, Ms. Bucknall was the State Director of WS’

New Jersey, New York City and Pennsylvania program. She served in this role from

1991 to 2007 focusing on migratory bird damage management, predation

management to protect rare and endangered shorebirds and airport wildlife hazards

management.
Before being named State Director, Ms. Bucknall spent two years with the New York

WS program, and her WS career started in Wisconsin where she helped dairy

farmers resolve damage caused by Canada geese and removed beavers and beaver

dams to protect and rehabilitate trout streams. Ms. Bucknall has bachelor of science

and master of science degrees in wildlife management from the State University of

New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the University of

Minnesota, respectively.

Bethany Jones, Deputy Administrator, Legislative

and Public Affairs

Bethany Jones provides leadership and guidance to effectively communicate APHIS

policy developments and program accomplishments. Ms. Jones is responsible for the

overall planning and direction of Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) activities, which

include media and industry outreach, legislative analysis, Freedom of Information

and Privacy Act requests, production of informational materials, and response to

media, congressional, intergovernmental, and citizen inquiries about APHIS

programs.

Ms. Jones began her career with APHIS in 1990, after graduating from Randolph

Macon Woman’s College with a bachelor of arts degree in English. She accepted a

position as a writer/editor with LPA’s Executive Communications program and has

been with LPA ever since. Ms. Jones spent 11 years in LPA’s Public Affairs office

where she served in various positions including editor of the Agency’s newsletter,

outreach campaign coordinator, international trade public affairs specialist and

Deputy Director of Public Affairs. In 2000, she was named Director of Public Affairs
with responsibility for managing the Agency’s media, outreach, publications, web,

and audio-visual functions. In 2003, Ms. Jones was selected as Associate Deputy

Administrator for LPA and then in 2007 as Deputy Administrator.

Sherron Jernigan, Director, Office of Civil Rights,

Diversity and Inclusion

Sherron Jernigan was appointed as the Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Diversity

and Inclusion in July 2021.  In this role, she ensures APHIS and its clients are in

compliance with the provisions of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Civil

Rights laws, workforce diversity programs, Federal regulations and

Departmental/Agency-wide policies. 

Before assuming this role, Mrs. Jernigan was Director of the Veterans Health

Administration’s (VHA) Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Employment

Office (EEO/AEO), where her responsibilities included providing regulatory guidance

and oversight for the 162 EEO Programs within the Administration.  From 2011 -

2018, she served as a national EEO Manager in VHA’s Central Office, where among

other things, she redesigned the EEO/AEO dashboard to interface measurable EEO

principles into VHA’s daily operations. 

Though she started her VA Career in 1995 as a Low Vision Rehabilitation Specialist,

she quickly moved into the Diversity and Inclusion arena by serving as a collateral

duty Special Emphasis Program Manager.  For 10 years she held a distinguish career

as an EEO Manager at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center, by creating EEO tools,

innovative Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and implementing conflict resolution

programs. 
Mrs. Jernigan earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Stillman College in

Tuscaloosa, AL, and a master of science in Low Vision Rehabilitation from

Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, PA.  She is a native of Tennessee

and now resides in Southern Maryland.